LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Tuesday

Aug 13, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Gordon Dickerson (Aug. 4) used a Wall Street Journal article by Happer and Schmidt to support climate change denial with no climate scientist, chemist or biologist contributing. Anyone with a brain tumor would consult a neurologist, not a cardiologist. However good the cardiologist might be at heart issues, he/she would not be a good source for brain advice.

Gordon Dickerson (Aug. 4) used a Wall Street Journal article by Happer and Schmidt to support climate change denial with no climate scientist, chemist or biologist contributing. Anyone with a brain tumor would consult a neurologist, not a cardiologist. However good the cardiologist might be at heart issues, he/she would not be a good source for brain advice.

Unsurprisingly, Dickerson's authors present ideas about carbon dioxide that are distortions, naïve or just ignorant. In a greenhouse, where all other nutrients are abundant, carbon dioxide might increase plant growth, but in the real world it's potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous that are critical; this is why fertilizers contain N-P-K.

However important an element is, we can get too much — with destructive consequences. All life needs salt, but flood a freshwater lake with seawater and we know what happens; a disastrous outcome. Our warming climate comes from burning fossil fuels — Dickerson's market is failing us.

Snake-oil salesmen used to travel widely plying their "cure for everything that ails you" scam. If we wish to protect the planet for future generations, we have to ignore snake oil salesmen who profit by plying climate denial — and take steps to control carbon dioxide emissions. — Alan Journet, Jacksonville

Responding to the article "A chance to heal" in the Aug. 6 Mail Tribune, I agree with the hopes for peace and non-use of nuclear and biological weapons.

I take exception to the necessity for the American people to apologize for dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Did the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor while Japanese diplomats pretended to want peace not happen? Did the Japanese not start the war?

How many U.S. servicemen, women and civilians died in that attack? How many U.S. troops died on the Bataan death march? What about the horrible treatment of U.S. servicemen in Japanese prison camps? How many Philippine citizens died at the hands of the Japanese? How arrogant, wanting Americans to yet once again apologize! The Japanese emperor would have let the last Japanese soldier die fighting before he would surrender! There are very few if any people who were involved in World War II alive, and why should they or any other American once again apologize? Perhaps Ms. Snider should apologize for the Japanese starting the war! — Russell L. DeClusin, Medford